Ganapati Kalyanam – The Story of the Phrase

Ganapati Kalyanam is a phrase used in South India to refer
to the marriage of a person, which is continuously postponed due to various
reasons and never takes place. This phrase is associated with a local story associated
with Shiva and Ganesha.

Legend has it that one day Ganapati felt like getting
married. He immediately dashed towards Mount Kailash the abode of Shiva and
Goddess Parvati.

There he asked his parents about his marriage. He wanted to
know the date of his marriage.

This sudden request from Ganapati puzzled Shiva and Goddess
Parvati.

Shiva then wrote on a stone nearby ‘Tomorrow is the marriage.’

Ganesha then forgot about the marriage subject and indulged
in his leelas.

But whenever Ganesha remembered about his marriage, Shiva
pointed towards the stone.

Thus the marriage of Ganapati was eternally postponed.

Note – In some Hindu cultures, Hindu God Ganesh is a
bachelor. But there are some cultures in which he is a family man. Siddhi and
Riddhi, daughter of Brahma, are the wives of Hindu God Ganesha.